Building Boaz Reviewed by Bro. Terence Satchell

Building Hiram - 10/23/09


Hello Fellow Travelers!

Here is a Building Boaz review from Brother Terence Satchell that was posted last evening in the review section of Masonic Central:

"Building Boaz facilitates the advancement of

Masonic comprehension for both the newly initiated Apprentice as well as the experienced Master. ...  I will personally be making Building Boaz required reading for all of my future Masonic proteges and encourage all Freemasons to read this book..."
-- Bro. Terence Satchell

Building Boaz
October 22, 2009 by The Euphrates

I have come to find that modern Masonic literature can be compared to the preparation of food. Some Masonic literature is too light to satisfy the appetite and too bland to excite the senses. Other works on the subject of the fraternity are too rich and overpowering to the palate and leave the reader with a case of indigestion as he struggles to comprehend the knowledge contained within them. It takes an expert chef—or in this case author—to find the right combination of ingredients so that the flavor is complex but not overwhelming and the reader is left full but not gorged.

Dr. John Nagy has found this balance again in Building Boaz, the second volume in his Uncommon Catechism for Uncommon Masonic Education series. Building Boaz focuses on the symbolism of the Entered Apprentice degree using the Inquiry-Response format of the time honored Masonic catechism. It examines the lessons taught to us in Entered Apprentice degree and expands upon these themes in order to unveil a deep, intertwined network of the order’s philosophical precepts.

Building Boaz facilitates the advancement of Masonic comprehension for both the newly initiated Apprentice as well as the experienced Master. The book challenges the reader to form a deeper understanding of the initiatic rituals throughout the book. Dr. Nagy finds a way to connect Masonic ritual with the Bible, the Nag Hammadi Scrolls, Greek mythology, classical literature, and other great sources of moral instruction without making the subject matter cumbersome to even the most novice student of Masonry. This makes Building Boaz a refreshing and insightful review of the first degree of Masonry.

Dr. Nagy’s efforts have created an educational product which fills a void in today’s Masonic literature. For hundreds of years, the Freemason’s catechism has formed the backbone of the institution’s moral instruction. The catechism has instilled the basic principles of the fraternity in the minds of it’s initiates and served as the gateway to further exploration of Freemasonry’s allegorical concepts. However, in modern Freemasonry we find that the catechism is often seen in one of two opposing viewpoints: archaic and out of date or as the be-all and end-all of Masonic instruction. Building Boaz, like Nagy’s previous work Building Hiram, restores the catechism to its rightful place in Masonic education as both the staple of the Mason’s instructional diet and the springboard to a higher understanding of Masonic teachings. Not only does this format make the information contained within the book easy to comprehend for the reader, but it also allows the book to be used in the lodge for Masonic education without any further digestion. This eliminates the intimidation which many modern Freemasons face when trying to develop an educational presentation for their assemblies.

I will personally be making Building Boaz required reading for all of my future Masonic proteges and encourage all Freemasons to read this book and address the questions that it will cultivate in their minds. I hope that Building Boaz may enhance your Masonic experience as much as it has enhanced mine.

You can purchase the book here.

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Thank you Brother Satchell!

Faternally,

Brother Coach N.

Building Hiram Scavenger Hunt

Building Hiram - 10/10/09

Hello Fellow Travelers!


33 Questions for “Just Raised” Masons to Explore and Answer

(Based upon the book: Building Hiram – Uncommon Catechism for Uncommon Masonic Education – Volume 1 by Dr. John S. Nagy)

The Work of a Raised Mason does not end with his Raising and proficiency. If he did his Work well, he is now responsible for reviewing all that has been handed him and making sense of it beyond the obvious. Below are questions designed to assist him in that Work.

1. What are Freestones, Bastard Ashlars and Perpend Ashlars and why are they called these names specifically? (Chapter 1)
2. How is the Height a Mason can climb determined? (Chapter 1)
3. What is Perfection? (Chapters 1, 4)
4. According to Ritual, what specific Work, Working tools and actions Perfect Ashlars and what specific qualities must a Rough Ashlar have for it to be accepted into Masonry? (Chapters 1, 2)
5. What are the Six Working tools stated within American Rite, what are the Nine Working Tools stated within English Rite, what other tools are there and what are all their speculative uses? (Chapter 2)
6. What are the Trivium and Quadrivium, what do they classically represent and what does a Mason prepare for by studying them? (Chapter 4)
7. What do each of the separate subjects of the Trivium and Quadrivium represent the Study of, respectively? (Chapter 4)
8. What do the Trivium and Quadrivium have to do with Raising Masons? (Chapter 4)
9. When joined, how are the Trivium and Quadrivium represented two and three dimensionally? (Chapter 4)
10. Besides the actual physical act, what actually Raises a Mason? (Chapter 4)
11. What two events should occur next for any Ashlar once it is Perfected and Raised; and what tool and material are involved in these two events? (Chapters 1, 4, 12)
12. What are the four specific Wages that a Master Mason can expect to receive for his Work? (Chapter 12)
13. What classical elements do each of these four Wages represent and why? (Chapter 12)
14. Where are the four Wages of Master Masons disclosed within the Volume of Sacred Law? (Chapter 12)
15. What historical significance does the fourth and final Wage of a Master Mason have in relationship to covenants, payment and preservation? (Chapter 12)
16. What are the names of the five Pillars stated within the five orders of architecture, whom do these Pillars represent within the Lodge and how do these five Pillars represent the Masonic Journey from Candidate through to Master Mason? (Chapter 3)
17. What number is assigned to the second flight of stairs in the FC lecture and what does this specific section of the flight of stairs represent symbolically for Master Masons? (Chapter 4)
18. How do the Square and Compasses relate to Heaven and Earth, what Hebrew words do they represent separately and what words do they represent when overlaid upon each other? (Chapters 1, 9)
19. Why is it said that the “Square is the offspring of the Compasses” and how is this proven geometrically? (Chapter 9)
20. Name the offices of the Lodge, their corresponding Jewels, and how each office functionally supports a Mason’s life outside the Lodge. (Chapter 10)
21. What other Working Tool is referred to by the Hebrew word symbolized by the Square? (Chapter 2)
22. How do the symbolic Penalties manifest in real life for anyone, Mason or profane, who does not honor his Word? (Chapter 6)
23. As represented by each of the penalties, explain what is physically, functionally and spiritually lost by a person who does not keep true to his Word. (Chapter 6)
24. What specific Working tool does each Due-guard represent and how does each relate to Heaven and Earth? (Chapter 11)
25. What do the first flight of Stairs in the Fellow Craft degree, the steps leading up to the Worshipful Master within the Lodge and the Three Ruffians in the second part of the Third Degree all have in common? (Chapter 4)
26. What evidence does Ritual show for the implied existence of a fourth Ruffian, what season does he represent, what is his name and what aspect of a Mason’s life does he characterize? (Chapter 5)
27. What symbolic demands were placed upon the central Character of the second part of the Third Degree and how did each test his Integrity? (Chapters 5, 6)
28. What is the Sacred Triad and how is it used as a measure the worth of a man’s Word when he gives it? (Chapter 8)
29. What Three Hebrew words are alluded to by the three principle elements of the Sacred Triad and when using only the first letter of these elements, what acronym does it Spell out? (Chapter 8)
30. What is "the fourth part of a circle," what classical element does it refer to and how does it apply to Masonic teachings? (Chapter 9)
31. What Working tools provide Masonic clues that explain the 3-4-5 triangle and which tool denotes which number and why? (Chapters 7, 8, 9)
32. What conditions must exist for the Lost Word to be revealed and why can it only be revealed but not spoken? (Chapters 8, 11)
33. What are the three primary Working tools of Master Masons, how can using only two of these Working tools reveal what would normally be required using the third Working tool and if one tool is Lost, how can it be revealed once again by using the remaining two? (Chapter 9)

Fraternally,

Brother Coach N.

Building Boaz Scavenger Hunt

Building Boaz - 10/4/09

Hello Fellow Travelers!

33 Questions for “Soon to Pass” Entered Apprentice Masons to Answer

(Based upon the book: Building Boaz – Uncommon Catechism for Uncommon Masonic Education – Volume 2 by Dr. John S. Nagy)

Before the Entered Apprentice Mason you are mentoring Passes to Fellow Craft, you might want to have them respond to these questions first. If you have Passed beyond Entered Apprentice, you might want to review them yourself to see if the mentoring you received was sufficient enough for you to answer them.

1) According to Ritual, what is the purpose to which Candidates Enter Masonry? (Chapter 6)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon the Entered Apprentice Work’s purpose.

2) How has Masonry been defined in the past and what is the central theme of the Work of Entered Apprentice Masons? (Introduction, Chapters 1, 2, 12)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon defining Masonry, understanding the Work they must do and what they are to accomplish.

3) To honor the purpose of Entry, what must Entered Apprentice Masons Work upon, what tasks must be completed and what results should be expected? (Introduction, Chapter 2)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon the object of the Work, the tasks and the outcome of that Work.

4) What is an Oblong Square and how does it point to the Work of Entered Apprentice Masons? (Chapter 6)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon symbols point toward the Work they must do and the meaning behind such symbols.

5) What side of the Oblong Square is shortest in the EA degree? (Chapter 6)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon how symbols can be read.

6) What was the name of the Mountain to which Masons must Build their Temples to the Lord, what does its name mean and what is its significance to Masonic Work? (Chapter 2)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon the symbol, the meaning behind it and upon what the Work is founded.

7) Based upon the history of the Masonic Temple Mount, what does the checkered pavement represent? (Chapter 7)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon the connection between the Foundation and the Work to be done.

8) What are Vices and Superfluities? (Chapter 7)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon understanding the significance of these two words in the Work they must do.

9) What is the common thread that both Vices and Superfluities have? (Chapter 7)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon what these two word have in common in helping them identify their significance in the Work they are to do.

10) What is the main difference between a Vice and a Superfluity? (Chapter 7)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon what distinguishes one from another.

11) How do Vices and Superfluities weaken Masons? (Chapter 7)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon the impact of these two upon Masons.

12) What are the names of the classical Vices? (Chapter 7)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon the classical Vices and their characteristics.

13) How do the agricultural terms “Threshing” and “Winnowing” relate to the foundation of the Masonic Temple and the Work Entered Apprentice Masons must do? (Chapter 2)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon the historic background of the Temple Mount location and its relevance to all Masonic Work.

14) What four biblical characters had significant events occur for them upon the Mountain where our first Masonic Temple resided, what were these significant events and what is their relationship to our Masonic Work? (Chapter 2)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon significance events surrounding four Biblical Characters and these events relationship to Masonic Work,

15) How do the Square and Compasses relate to Heaven and Earth? (Chapter 8)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon a symbolic relationship that is significant to Masonic Work.

16) How does Jacob’s dream relate to the Work that Masons must do to Strengthen themselves? (Chapters 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon how Jacob’s dream relates to Entered Apprentice Strengthening Work.

17) What Work do the rungs or steps of Jacob’s Ladder relate to within Ritual? (Chapter 8)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon the significance of these rungs or steps to Entered Apprentice Work.

18) Whom do the Ladder’s two stingers relate to within Masonic Ritual? (Chapters 4, 8)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon how these two stringers symbolically support their Work.

19) What do the key and the five pedal rose signify to Masons? (Chapter 5)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon their symbolic significance to the Work Entered Apprentices must do.

20) How do the Key and Rose relate to Masonic Obligation? (Chapter 5)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon how these two symbols remind Masons of what actions they are obligated to honor.

21) What benefits will be visited upon Masons when honoring what the key or rose represent? (Chapter 5)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon the benefits they receive when they practice the discipline these two symbols represent.

22) When focused inward, what do the symbols of the key and rose ask Masons to seek? (Chapters 5, 11)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon the hidden responsibilities these two symbols require them to accept and complete.

23) What two phrases adorning the temple at Delphi best express the Work results of EA Masons? (Chapter 5, 11)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon how ancient the messages are that they are required to understand and heed in their Work.

24) What is the root of the word “Virtue” and how are Virtues spelled out in Entered Apprentice Ritual? (Chapters 6, 8, 9, 10)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon what Virtues represent and remembering and recalling what they are according to Ritual.

25) What are the names of the two groups of Virtues spoken of in Ritual? (Chapters 8, 9, 10)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon the two major groups these Virtues are divided into.

26) How do these two groups of Virtues differ from each other and what aspect of Masons do they support? (Chapter 4, 8)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon knowing how these two major groups differ from one another and what they Strengthen within the Masons who practice them.

27) What does practicing any Virtue do for Masons? (Chapters 8, 9, 10)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon what Virtues do for Masons who practice them.

28) What Fifth Perfect Point is implied by three Virtues, what are their common threads and how do these common threads help Masons determine if a Candidate should be let through the West Gate? (Chapter 10)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon an implied Fifth Perfect Point, the three Virtues associated with it, the common threads these Virtues have and the significance these threads have in discerning acceptability of Candidates.

29) What does the Thurnell represent for Entered Apprentice Masons and how does Broaching assist Entered Apprentice Masons in regard to the Work they must do? (Chapter 8)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon what the Thurnell represents in regard to the Work they need to do and how that Work can be assisted toward completion.

30) How is the flanked circle inculcated within Ritual? (Chapter 4)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon taking the symbol, looking for how that symbol is acted out in Lodge and the meaning behind it.

31) What Pillar signifies the end product of Entered Apprentice Masonic Work, whom does it represent, where is it symbolically inculcated within Ritual, how is it symbolically represented within the Lodge and where can it be found within the Volume of Sacred Law? (Chapter 4)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon a symbol which represents the end result of Entered Apprentice Work.

32) What does a ball or globe signify when atop a Pillar? (Chapter 4)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon symbolism that is not well known to modern day Masons.

33) What unique “Chamber,’ located outside the Lodge room, is widely used outside the United States of America but is not used in most Blue Lodge Masonry practiced within the United States and what Work does it emphasize. (Chapter 11)

• Intention: Focus Entered Apprentice Masons upon a tool that is used widely outside the United States in Entered Apprentice Rituals and its usefulness in the Work of all Masons.

Fraternally,

Brother Coach N.